Exact moment of Atonement
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2012 11:34 am
Hey guys, I was having a discussion with a friend on atonement and we had an interesting discussion. Now, we're all aware that different churches have different views on this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Christianity
However, are we all in agreement on the EXACT moment?
Excuse me for my terms here, but on the subject of atonement, although it may be inadequate to use the word "victory" along with it. Its obvious to me and maybe not to everyone else, but we couldn't we say that everything Christ did was a victory?
Every beating, every punishment handed out by the Roman authority, every step he took to Calvary, every nail, every second it went on was a victory for those who believed who he said he was?
It wasn't obvious to his followers at the time, and it may not even be obvious to some of us this day. Wasn't the victory BEYOND imminent? I understand thats its part of our reality as Christians, but it baffles me that we often see it more in the sense of shame instead of the victory that it is.
I often hear these catch phrases like, "Our sin is upon the cross" or "Every time we sin, we send Jesus through that over again". Isn't this the wrong way to portray it? When we tell other religions things like this, isn't this just really giving them the WRONG overall idea? Isn't it obvious to all of us that there isn't a single thing we can do to please God on our own? I am not sure why we need to hammer this in.
So, going back to the first question. In your view, where is the exact moment of atonement? It very much interests me if theres disagreements anywhere.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atonement_in_Christianity
However, are we all in agreement on the EXACT moment?
Excuse me for my terms here, but on the subject of atonement, although it may be inadequate to use the word "victory" along with it. Its obvious to me and maybe not to everyone else, but we couldn't we say that everything Christ did was a victory?
Every beating, every punishment handed out by the Roman authority, every step he took to Calvary, every nail, every second it went on was a victory for those who believed who he said he was?
It wasn't obvious to his followers at the time, and it may not even be obvious to some of us this day. Wasn't the victory BEYOND imminent? I understand thats its part of our reality as Christians, but it baffles me that we often see it more in the sense of shame instead of the victory that it is.
I often hear these catch phrases like, "Our sin is upon the cross" or "Every time we sin, we send Jesus through that over again". Isn't this the wrong way to portray it? When we tell other religions things like this, isn't this just really giving them the WRONG overall idea? Isn't it obvious to all of us that there isn't a single thing we can do to please God on our own? I am not sure why we need to hammer this in.
So, going back to the first question. In your view, where is the exact moment of atonement? It very much interests me if theres disagreements anywhere.